Finding Your First Job After College: Part 1

As the graduation season approaches, Clark Atlanta University’s Office of Strategic Communications set about examining approaches and techniques that would be helpful for students in finding their first professional job after college or even helping students whose graduation day is a year or two in the future.  Our goal was to develop several instructional articles that students could use resources for developing cover letters, resumes, networking strategies, and performing well during job interviews. What we discovered is that there is an abundance of techniques and opportunities available to help a students’ job search be more manageable — and successful. We also discovered that there is no shortage of professionals who are willing to provide the benefit of their experience and expertise for articles that students can tap into as a resource for landing a job in a tight marketplace.

We talked to corporate human resource professionals, corporate recruiters who specialize in hiring college students and hiring managers -- all who represented an array of industries. Closer to home, we reached out to group of young CAU alums who spoke candidly about the do’s and don’ts of strategically navigating the highly competitive  job market and we sought the advice of someone who has worked extensively with Clark Atlanta students to prepare them for job searches. Ms. Ernita Hemmitt, interim dean of students for CAU, provided excellent advice to job seekers.  Over the years in her role with the Career Planning and Placement Center (now the Career Development Center), Hemmitt has counseled, mentored and coached students to success in their job searches.

“How to Find Your First Job After College,” is a collection of resourceful articles presented in three parts: Part I focuses on Preparation, Part II presents The Student Perspective and Part III, A Successful Transition, gives instruction on how to avoid the office faux pas and smoothly transition from the classroom to the workplace.

Below, please find the articles for Part I: Preparation.

The Opener and the Closer: A Strong Cover Letter Can Set You Apart

For many job seekers, how to construct a winning cover letter is one of the great mysteries in prepping for a successful search. The cover letter is arguably also the most under used and least appreciated document in the job search. Often running a distant second to the resume in terms of its perceived value, this one-page sales pitch has been elevated to a new level of importance by a fiercely competitive job market and slow job creation. With so many new college graduates vying for relatively few positions, a cover letter is now an opener and a closer to a job seeker aiming to receive that all-too-important invitation to a job interview.

“The cover letter is a job seeker’s marketing tool to sell himself or herself as a candidate, and should be given as much care as one’s resume,” said Leonora M. Trawick, human resources manager for college and university recruiting with Edward Jones. “It is also an opportunity for college students to demonstrate their writing skills and make a good first impression before the interview.”

Following the guidelines below can help students prepare a well-written, well-structured cover letter to accompany their resumes:

• Do your research. Call the company and get the full name and correct spelling of the recipient. Customize each cover letter with the recipient’s name, job title and address.   Do not use To Whom It May Concern.
• Capture the reader’s attention immediately by writing the letter using easy to read type. Care should be taken to use correct grammar and punctuation. Well-structured sentences and paragraphs are also a must.
• State your objective in the first paragraph. It is also important to communicate to the reader why you are writing the letter. For example, a student might begin this way: “I am a new college graduate with a degree in business administration and excellent work experience at  major finance companies. I am writing to provide you my resume as I seek to be considered as a candidate for the position of sales representative with Edward Jones.”
• The second paragraph is the most opportune place to highlight specific skills and abilities and how they meet the requirements of the job opportunity. This is also the place to summarize why you are the right person for the job.
• In the third paragraph, make a strong connection with the reader telling him or her how your strengths meet the needs of the company and the job responsibilities.  
• In the fourth paragraph, demonstrate that you are familiar with the company and that you have done your homework by relating specific information about the company. For example, you might make reference to a recent announcement the company has made and state this as an example of why you would like to join its workforce.
• Make a strong closing statement and be clear about what you want, which is to be contacted for an interview or extended an invitation to call and follow up. Be sure to explain when, where and how you can be contacted.
• Keep the letter concise – preferably one page. Always thank the reader.

Trawick, who has the opportunity to advise hundreds of students per year in her role as part of her company’s HR Contingent Workforce Management division, said the cover letters are not optional for young people looking to get noticed by recruiters. “When I talk to students at college job fairs, I always tell them to think of the cover letter as their ‘elevator speech.’ The letter is a job seeker’s two minutes to make a strong first impression without actually seeing the recruiter face to face, which is why a strong letter is so important.”

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Resume Writing Tips for the College Student

One of the great myths regarding students and resumes is that if the student has not had his or her first professional job, they don’t need a resume. Students may think, ‘After all, if I haven’t had a job in my field of study, there’s nothing for me to put in a resume.’ Many students and recent graduates worry that they don’t have enough experience to create a compelling resume. This is simply is not true. In fact, if a college student does not have a resume, that student has already lost the competition for internships as well as consideration for other jobs.

Other students make the mistake of not taking time to learn how to create a proper resume and have someone experienced to review it to make sure that it is professionally written.

Phillip Peoples, a sales representative for The Sherwin-Williams Company, spends a considerable amount of time reviewing students’ resumes during college job fairs in which his company participates around Atlanta. According to Peoples, one of the biggest mistakes students make is sending out “blanket resumes,” without tailoring them for the company or the industry from which they are seeking employment.

“Generic resumes are a red flag to a hiring manager that the job seeker did not take the time or care enough to invest in some basic research about the company before sending out the resume,” said Peoples. “I always tell students to take time do proper research and then tailor their attributes to the company or the industry.”

In a marketplace where jobs are scarce and competition is exorbitant, having a strong resume is an absolute must – even if you’ve never had a professional job or an internship.

Following are some guidelines for college students to consider when constructing a resume:

• Creating your first resume should not be difficult, intimidating or impossible. First, begin the process by having a clear understanding of what companies are looking for in interns or job candidates. This would be particularly helpful to know if you are targeting an internship or job in your area of study. Websites can help and so can CAU’s Career Development Center.
• Think about your strengths. What can you offer an employer?
• Summer jobs should be included on resumes.
• Internships (whether they were paid internships or unpaid internships) should be listed and described.
• Volunteer or pro bono work related to the degree programs should be listed just as if they were paid positions.

• List those courses that are relevant to your degree program.
• List computer skills
• Other related accomplishments (relevant awards and recognitions)
• Keep the resume to one to two pages.
• Double check for typos and grammatical errors.

A final note to would-be resume writers is to invest in a good book containing examples of resumes and cover letters, which will provide ideas on layout, design and approach. Also, a review of resume writing articles on the web. 

“You can be a great student with a 4.0 GPA but you still really have to sell yourself,” said Peoples. “It is very competitive in the job market and simply being an outstanding student isn’t going to win that job offer or even a job interview. You have to stand out and the ticket to getting that interview is selling yourself with a strong resume that shows the recruiter that you are serious about working for the company. Take the time to learn about the companies you are going after and make sure your resume demonstrates that you are a professional.




Gearing Up for the Top 10 Interview Questions

Whether you are a seasoned professional or a college graduate looking to land your first professional job, one of the smartest moves you can make is to prepare a Q & A that can help you deliver powerful responses to interviewers’ 10 most commonly asked questions.

“You only have one time to make that first impression during the interview,” said Sheila Cuneio, a Decatur, Ga.-based human resources manager for Cintas Corporation. “Give yourself an advantage by being professional, energetic, engaging and on top of things in the interview. This is what captures human resources managers’ attention as well as that of hiring managers. It can set you apart.”

Don’t let the term “common questions” lull you into being overly confident. These questions, which are posed to candidates by most interviewers, still throw a curve to many job seekers and cause them to stumble during the interview.

You can avoid this pitfall and can prepare for tough questions by knowing what to expect and planning your answers ahead of time so that you can respond with ease, confidence and control.

1. What Are Your Weaknesses?

This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits: "I am always working on improving my communication skills to be a more effective presenter. I recently joined Toastmasters, which I find very helpful."

2. Why Should We Hire You?

Summarize your experiences: "With five years of experience working in the financial industry and my proven record of saving the company money, I could make a big difference in your company. I'm confident I would be a great addition to your team."

3. Why Do You Want to Work Here?

The interviewer is listening for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not sending out resumes just because there is an opening. For example, "I've selected key companies with mission statements that are in line with my values, where I know I could be excited about what the company does, and this company is very high on my list of desirable choices."

4. What Are Your Goals?

Sometimes it's best to talk about short-term and intermediate goals rather than locking yourself into the distant future. For example, "My immediate goal is to get a job in a growth-oriented company. My long-term goal will depend on where the company goes. I hope to eventually grow into a position of responsibility."

5. Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "I managed to survive two rounds of corporate downsizing, but the third round was a 20 percent reduction in the workforce, which included me."

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience."

6. When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?

The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

7. What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?

What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

8. What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?

It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss' quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

9. What Salary Are You Seeking?

It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"

10. If You Were an Animal, Which One Would You Want to Be?

Interviewers use this type of psychological question to see if you can think quickly. If you answer "a bunny," you will make a soft, passive impression. If you answer "a lion," you will be seen as aggressive. What type of personality would it take to get the job done? What impression do you want to make?

Source: Monster.com

Publisher of Who’s Who Black Atlanta Imparts Advice for Job Search Success

Wayne K. Brown is an Atlanta-based business leader with more than 27 years of management, sales and marketing experience. After many years in broadcasting management and sales, Brown established WKB Enterprises, a company focusing on new media and brand marketing. WKB Enterprises has developed marketing campaigns for the Gospel Music Channel and the Steve Harvey Morning Show, Georgia Power, Buy Book Technologies, Wade Ford and Who’s Who Publishing Company. WKB Enterprises is also the publisher of the 2012 edition of Who’s Who Black Atlanta.

Brown’s broadcasting experience includes being the regional manager for Radio One, Inc., in Atlanta and a long career as an executive with CBS.

While managing Howard University’s radio station, he was active in mentoring a number of the university’s students and continues to be involved in mentoring young professionals and students.

Brown provided Pathways with the following tips for CAU students as they plan for life after graduation.

§        Resumes are a must. It is never too early to learn how to write your resume. Most career experts advise young people to develop a resume while in high school.  

§       Get involved in organizations. You will learn the importance of being involved in school activities and organizations.  You can also get internships in high school as well as college that can be placed on your resume.

§       Wide exposure is absolutely key to finding a job. Students should expose themselves to as many occupations as possible when they first enter college.  Don't limit yourself; utilize the resources of friends and family to identify and learn about various professions.

§        Career placement offices are important to a successful job search. Visit your college or university’s career placement office as a freshman and get active. Most students seek the services of this important office as a seniors, and often times, senior year is too late to receive the full benefits that the office has to offer prospective job seekers.  The career placement office can help students get internships as a freshman, sophomore and junior.  Internships are important. In some cases, internships will be non-paid but the experience is still very valuable.

Let your career placement office director know your intentions of graduating from college with a job!  Stay focused and make the career placement office a part of your entire college experience.  Also, companies visit college campuses through this office.

§         Invest in study time.  It's very important to focus on grades and maintaining the highest grade point average possible.  Companies want to hire the best and the brightest!

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Finding Your First Job After College

Part 2 of 3: The Student Perspective

The Rules for Landing that First Job

Six Young CAU Alumni Tell All

Six Clark Atlanta University alums recently spoke openly and candidly about the challenges new graduates will face in finding employment in a job market that is more competitive than ever and only just beginning to show early signs of rebounding.

Each of the young professionals had sage advice to offer students who will be graduating in a few short months, as well as those who will be navigating the job market in the next year. Each of them cautioned impending job seekers to avoid the mistakes that could sink their chances to secure a job before they even get through the interview possess.

The five young ladies and one gentleman decided to forego soft-peddling the dos and don’ts and doled out no-holds-barred advice to CAU student job seekers – and they said that they’re being candid “out of love” for young hopefuls looking to be where they are today: employed in promising positions with Fortune 500 companies.

The six alums took part in CAU’s Career Development Center’s 2012 Career Fair recently. They provided the advice and recommendations below based on five hours of interacting with CAU students, and based on their experiences representing their employers at college job fairs around the nation. 

The CAU alumni offering the advice and observations below are: Jenise Durham (2005), employed with Nestle USA; Chelsie Daniels (2011), employed with Nestle USA; Christyna J. Harris (2008), employed with Edward Jones; Jennifer Montgomery (2010), employed with MetLife; Chanel Starks (2008), employed with Nestle USA; and John White (2008), employed with Nestle USA.

Do:

• Learn how to have appropriate conversations with potential employers and recruiters because falling short in this area can certainly short circuit the interview process. “Giving an employer information about needing a job to pay your school loans, your bills and meet other financial obligations is not appropriate information to be shared during the interview,” said Daniels, a Nestle sales representative based in Fort Worth, Texas. “Employers will get the impression that a job seeker just wants a job to pay bills and is not generally interested in joining the company.”
• Have your elevator speech ready. Clearly communicate your objectives and show that you are focused. “It doesn’t matter if you are in a formal interview, talking to reps at a job fair or whether you happen to meet someone in a social setting, you should always be prepared to communicate your experience, objectives and what you can offer a company,” said Starks, a Nestle sales representative based in Atlanta. “Articulate confidently and intelligently.”
• Research the company. “Before you send out resumes and certainly before the interview or even before approaching a company representative in settings such as job fairs, take time to learn about the company,” said White, Nestle’s sales representative based in New York. “I actually had several students ask me to explain what Nestle does to them during the career fair.”
• Take advantage of CAU’s Career Development Center. “I lived in the Career Development Center when I was a student,” said Durham, a sales representative based in Atlanta. “I took advantage of workshops, mock interviews and networking opportunities, and what I learned really made a difference when I started looking for a job and has even helped me in my career.”
• Dress appropriately. Even if you know that the company has a business casual dress code, always dress in business attire for interviews and during other times you are meeting with potential employers and co-workers. This includes lunches where you will be meeting potential co-workers. “Short skirts, cleavage-revealing blouses, sagging pants, flashy neckties and inappropriate footwear and makeup all can cause people to decide not to promote you to the next round of interviews,” said Durham, who cited the Career Development Center as helping students learn proper attire for interviews.
• Prepare for interviews and onsite meetings with employers at career fairs and job fairs. Treat the job interview as that one opportunity to sell yourself to an employer. “One of the best ways to make an impression is to prepare – over prepare – for your job interview,” said Montgomery, a leadership development associate based in Hartford, Conn. “Never go to a job interview or a job fair unprepared. Have questions already prepared to ask the interviewer about the role and the company. Think about it. If you are prepared, chances are good that you will stand out.”
• Seek out and take advantage of internships. Internships are more than a way to fulfill a degree program requirement; internships are opportunities to gain valuable work experience, network, make contacts and can even springboard a student into a full-time position after graduation. “I can’t emphasize enough to students how important it is to work in an internship,” said Harris, a Nestle sales representative based in St. Louis. “Students get to work in a real company and gain experience that they can put on a resume and talk about in job interviews. Don’t graduate without doing at least two internships.”

Don’t:

• Post inappropriate photos, images or comments on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites. Many companies now include reviewing an applicants’ social media accounts as part of the background checks on prospective employees.

• Send or respond to text messages during interviews or during conversations with people who have the power or means to refer you for a job.

• Be inattentive and don’t allow your attention to drift off or be diverted during exchanges. Stay alert, engaged and focused.

• Pass on the opportunity to participate in mock interviews.

• Pass on offers of help with your resume and cover letters.

• Ask how much a job pays during your first interview with a company. In fact, in most cases, the job seeker should wait for the interviewer to raise the subject.

• Walk into an interview unprepared to both ask and answer questions. Sit down and think about what questions an interviewer may ask and be prepared to answer them with clear, focused responses.

Among the many points all six alumni agreed on in terms of advice to students, they all agreed on a parting note from Durham regarding every CAU student’s responsibility to best on their face.

“Remember that you are not only representing you but you are also representing Clark Atlanta and the Atlanta University Center,” said Durham. “Many companies are being very selective about which colleges and universities they send representatives to during job fairs. The fact that so many companies still send recruiters to CAU’s job fairs speaks to the caliber of students here. This is another reason why you should represent yourself and CAU to the highest degree at all times.”

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Clark Atlanta University Graduates

Profiles of Inspiration: Pursuing and Fulfilling Dreams

How long it takes a recent college graduate to find work can depend on a great many things. Some Clark Atlanta students are fortunate to have secured a job during their senior year. Others must look for work months after graduation before receiving that first job offer.

Four CAU students, one CAU alumnus and one bright high school student who was selected to study at CAU, share their unique stories of strategy, planning, making the right decisions and taking advantages of opportunities, while pressing forward against challenges and obstacles. Each of them has found success in their own way and each appears to have a bright future ahead. Meet six young people who are pursuing their dreams against the odds and in a marketplace where new job creation continues to be slow. They are an inspiration.

                           Caroline Adams Goes to Washington

Caroline Gabrielle Adams describes herself as growing up “all over” and with good reason: born in Detroit, she grew up in Maryland, Connecticut, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. 

“I graduated from high school in Milwaukee and that is the place I call home,” Adams said.

The self-described Milwaukee native’s upbringing involved a great deal of change and adapting to new circumstances, and was good preparation for what she is doing now as an aide to a Georgia senator.  She also sees her upbringing as helpful to what she plans to do upon graduation in May 2012 with a master’s degree in educational leadership.

Adams is currently working as an aide to Sen. Horacena Tate (D-Ga.), where she wears many hats and manages multiple tasks that often change from day to day or even hour to hour. Her position demands that she be flexible and adaptable as she handles constituent correspondence and briefs Tate on issues and legislation. Adams attends committee and caucus meetings and works with Tate on production of the senator’s district newsletter.

How does a new professional make enough of an impression on a state senator to secure a job offer?

“One word: initiative,” said Adams. “I knew what I wanted to do and I went for it.  I was always mentally focused on my goals, while simultaneously going after them.”   

Adams’ decision to seek work with a politician was more than her desire to land a job when she graduated from CAU with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 2007.  It was also part of her career strategy as she plans to move to Washington, D.C. after obtaining her master’s degree to continue working in her field of educational policy advocacy.  One of the areas in Tate has done legislative work is protecting Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship, which provides support to college students. This work gave Adams first-hand experience in education advocacy and public policy that will no doubt make her very appealing to employers in Washington.

Heading off to the nation’s capitol will place her in the bedrock of an environment in there are great opportunities for jobs in education public policy formation and working closely with a legislator that is focused on education policy was excellent experience for Adams. 

“I am always looking for opportunities because the way the job market is today, hardly anything just falls into your lap without you having to put forth a real effort to pursue your goals,” she said.  “If you don’t adopt a go-getter approach, you will miss amazing opportunities!”  ∆

It’s Never Too Early! High School Junior Studies at CAU

and Gets a Jump on Career Preparedness

What can college students learn from a 16-year-old about positioning one’s self for a successful career well before entering college? What lessons about career preparedness can college students learn from a high school junior? Meet Clarisa Hernandez and the answers to these questions as well as a dose of inspiration can be gleaned by hearing her enlightening story.

The 16-year-old Tri-Cities High School junior was a participant in the Project SEED Program of the Center for Functional Nanoscale Materials (CFNM) at CAU. The program is an eight-week research and education project sponsored by the American Chemistry Society for students who are gifted but come from economically disadvantaged households. With a strong background in chemistry, the selected students conduct research and make presentations that explore various scientific problems.

CFNM is preparing future nanotechnology scientists. Nanoscale materials are fibers, thin films or nano particles that have a high surface-to-volume ratio.

Hernandez was involved in a research studies currently being conducted by CFNM faculty and graduate students using nanomaterial to improve a drug delivery system for diseases, including cancer.  Under the supervision CFNM doctoral student Janet Cowins, Hernandez’s focus was on a research project involving drug delivery system for prostate cancer cells.

"The opportunity to work on this kind of research at a university has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life,” said Hernandez, who culminated her eight-week stint with a major presentation to CFNM faculty, staff and students last August but stays in close contact with people at the center. “It was such an enriching experience not only because of the professors, faculty and students but also because of all the knowledge that students like me can gain as well as the broad perspective that students are exposed to in the program.”  

Clarisa Hernandez in the CFNM Laboratory

Hernandez, whose first language is Spanish, is planning a career as a pediatric surgeon. She will be the first in her family to attend college and said that the $2,500 stipend she received as a participant in Project SEED will be a big help as she prepares to head off to college. 

“Clarisa has set high goals for herself and is committed to doing the work to achieve those goals,” said Ishrat M. Khan, Ph.D., director of CFMN. “The fact that she is getting work experience in her field at age 16 speaks to her recognition that starting early will help her tremendously as she pursues her goal of becoming a doctor.”

According to Cowins, who serves as the teen’s mentor, Hernandez is a person who appreciates the field chemistry and was never afraid to take on challenges placed before her. “She always willing to learn new techniques and constantly went above and beyond what was needed of her in order to complete a task.”

Hernandez, who was one of the inaugural group of students selected for PROJECT Seed, stays connected with many CFNM faculty and continues to be mentored by Cowins.

Hernandez added, “Like I always say, ‘Follow your dreams until the end and never give up.’” ∆

                                                                           

CAU Student Prescella Monger: Interning Her Way to a Career

Prescella Monger has taken the advice regarding the importance of internships very seriously. In fact, she has completed no less than four internships in less than 18 months. Monger has interned with Earth Aid Enterprise in Washington, D.C., (Spring 2010); the Literacy Youth Foundation (Fall 2010); the Black Retail Action Group (Summer 2010); and a buying/planning internship with Macy’s Inc. (Summer 2010 and Summer 2011).

Monger believes these experiences have elevated her networking and computer skills tremendously, and she is reaping one other incredibly important benefit from the internships:  she began senior year in fall 2011 with a job offer from a company that she describes “a great one for which to work.”

The business administration major says that she loves a challenge and rarely takes “No” for an answer.

“I am a very positive, energetic, open-minded, and intellectual being with the tenacity to overcome any obstacle or objection, which is why I never took ‘No’ for an answer (during interviews),” said Monger. “If I have to retreat back to the drawing board, I am always hopeful that the next time around I will receive a ‘Yes’.”

During her most recent internship with Macy’s Inc. in New York City in summer 2011, she was a planning intern in the Home Department under Gourmet Cookware. She ran the Monday sales reports from the previous week, analyzed department performance by region, vendor, and style, and organized last year’s data compared to the present season in order to determine trends or forecast future drivers in the product assortment, based on profit margin and turnover.

Recognizing that she has a real passion for fashion and the arts, Monger began preparing for internships early in her sophomore year. She sought help CAU’s Career Development Center, which helped her to develop a resume and gave her other valuable advice and instruction. Monger also participated in the Center’s mock interviews.

“I was determined to gain work experience and further knowledge in my field,” said Monger. “I also prepared myself for internships and my first job after college by developing networking skills and leadership skills, joining various organizations on campus and partaking in beneficial events and seminars. My goal was to be successful in every interview I sought out.” ∆

Disaster Brings Change and Opportunity to Future Social Work Professional

Joseph Smith was hard at work pursuing his dream of becoming of a social worker in the summer of 2005. As a graduate student at Southern University in New Orleans, his long-range plan of opening his own non-profit organization seemed to be on the horizon. He had left his small hometown of Westwego, La., to attend graduate school and just settling into his first semester at Southern University. Everything seemed to be going Smith’s way – and then, an unexpected tragedy struck.

On August 30, 2005, one of worst natural disasters in U.S. history struck New Orleans.  Hurricane Katrina’s massive assault on the Gulf Coast region not only changed the city of New Orleans but also altered the lives and futures of thousands of people. When Southern University at New Orleans sustained damage as a result of the hurricane, Smith headed east to Atlanta. He enrolled in Clark Atlanta University in September to pursue his graduate studies at the Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work. In 2007, he graduated with a master’s in social work.

Today, he is one year away from earning a doctorate in social work with a concentration in public health and employed as a mental health clinician at the Georgia Crisis and Access Line (suicide hotline).  

Joseph Smith

“I provide contact to individuals, providers and families for triage, assessment, screening and the referral of all calls that are urgent or emergent in nature,” said Smith. “I also provide consultation, authorization or intervention as needed for backup of first responder staff and serve as backup and support for other professional staff needing assistance with rescue.” 

Smith, who is also an adjunct research professor for CAU’s School of Social Work, believes that a combination of strategy and searching out opportunities helped him to secure his current position.

First, when he was interested in working for a company and learned that it was not hiring, he did not allow that to deter him. Smith sought and secured an informational interview with a manager, thereby gaining valuable information about the organization, what officials look for in a candidate and how to prepare for a formal interview with them. Next, he took full advantage of CAU’s career services help offered by the Career Development Center to get help with his resume, networking and interviewing skills.

“The career services that the university offered gave me confidence and a competitive edge as I looked for work,” said Smith. “I also volunteered for various agencies where I could get experience in my field. I valued gaining experience over getting paid at that time, and I believe making that decision helped me to get a job offer.”

Smith plans to fulfill the career dream that he visualized when he was a student in New Orleans by establishing a non-profit organization that will serve at-risk youth in the Atlanta metropolitan.

“I believe in the CAU motto, ‘Find a way, or make a one,’” he said. “There is no doubt that when I graduate, I will be prepared for anything I set my mind to achieve.” ∆

                                           

Planning, Strategy and Drive Lead to Great Success in a Tough Job Market

Nhoj-Trebor Steede will graduate in May 2012 with a master’s degree in accounting from CAU’s School of Business Administration and months before he will be awarded his degree, Steede had already landed his first job at a one of the nation’s leading management consultant firms.

Steede spent the summers of 2010 and 2011 working as an intern for Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP, and the company was so impressed with his performance that he was recently asked to come aboard full time after graduation. Steede will join the Forensic and Disputes Division as an associate in the company this summer.

If one were to examine how Steede was in the position to receive such a great job offer in an economy that still challenges many of his peers to secure employment, one would find his success is the result of a combination of the all right moves: academic performance, hard work, many late nights spent in the library, networking, and managing his personal brand as a conscientious professional.

Steede also made another smart move: he decided to seek and secure as many internship positions as possible. He was a summer intern for three consecutive years for the Department of Statistics in his native Bermuda before interning with ACE Bermuda Insurance Ltd., from 2009-2011.

In the summers of 2010 and 2011, Steede worked as an intern for Deloitte Financial Advisory Services, where he performed such responsibilities as analyzing transactions, compiling data, conducting research on trademark infringement and organizing documents for litigation.

“I think the keys to my success are a strong family support system, and an internal desire to always give my best,” said Steede. “I believe that whether I am in the classroom, competitions or in business engagement settings, I have to do my very best in order for me to take advantage of opportunities and be considered for those opportunities.”

Steede also took advantage of other opportunities to position himself as a strong candidate for prospective employers long before his scheduled May 2012 graduation. He sought out professors, industry professionals, and the resources provided through CAU’s Career Development Center to ask for support in developing a resume and gaining job interview techniques. He also took classes and seminars that would sharpen his job search skills.

“I am always working on the art of marketing myself as a product,” he said. “I have not perfected the art as of yet because I believe in continuous improvement. However, I still take advantage of opportunities to ‘sharpen the saw,” as we say in Bermuda. Accepting that I must continue to learn and take advantage of opportunities is the key to how I landed my first job after college.”

Steede aggressively sought the opportunity to participate in the Deloitte Case Competition approximately two years ago and caught the attention of company managers, who offered him an internship for summer 2010. His outstanding performance led to a second internship during the summer of 2011.

“These opportunities were essential to me landing a job with Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP,” said Steede.  “You can never rest on your laurels; you must continuously develop and nurture your skills and the brand of YOU.”  ∆

                                                                                   

Alumnus Jihad Ziyad Parlayed Mentors and Internships to Achieve His Dream of Working in Entertainment

Jihad “JZ” Ziyad (CAU ’09) graduated from Clark Atlanta University less than three years ago with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Media Arts with a film production concentration and has already worked on television popular programs such as “The Mo’Nique Show” and “Single Ladies.”  The May 2009 graduate credits an aggressive strategy of relationship building, preparation and a conscientious work ethic coupled with his education as keys to his early success in the fiercely competitive entertainment industry.

The Cleveland native’s preparation for a career in entertainment actually began while he was still a student. Through his work-study position in the Office of Strategic Communications, Ziyad took every opportunity to network with people inside and outside the entertainment industry, learn the business and leverage his studies in film production to position himself as an attractive candidate to those in a position to hire him.  His strategy is working.

His first professional job after graduating was working as on-set production assistant within the assistant director’s (AD) department on an R&B music video. Next, he worked as a 1^st assistant director on the VH1 series, “Single Ladies.”

“While working on ‘Single Ladies,’ I made sure I stayed attentive, exercised a good sense of proactive thinking, and became knowledgeable of the 1st AD’s responsibilities,” said Ziyad. “That way, I could assist her in all types of situations, when needed.”

Based on the strong work ethic Ziyad displayed on that particular show, the assistant director was interested in hiring him as her key set production assistant for the duration of the series. From there, he landed a job with BET Networks’ “The Mo’Nique Show.”

“When working in the entertainment industry, your work ethic and attitude toward your responsibilities, among other attributes, make a huge impact on being referred to another opportunity, because getting a job in this field is highly dependent upon your reputation and referrals,” said Ziyad.

He is currently working as a key set production assistant on the hit television series comedy “Reed Between the Lines,” which premiered under BET Networks in October 2011. His responsibilities include managing all other production assistants, daily distribution of important documents to all crew members, mapping out all scenes in which background actors work and relaying them to the 2nd AD and assisting with actors’ cues.

Ziyad offers this advice to impending graduates, “For graduates looking to acquire their first professional job after college, the best advice I can give is to make sure to network as much as possible and build strong relationships and strong working relationships with individuals in the industry. Building relationships with individuals prior to graduating can potentially become an opportunity for employment later down the line, even if it’s not directly after college.”

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Finding Your First Job After College

Part 3 of 3: Focus on A Successful Transition

CAU’s Career Development Center:

Ensuring Students Succeed in Today’s Job Marketplace

The Career Development Center (formerly CAU’s Career Planning and Placement Center) exists to provide undergraduate and graduate students with leadership and professional development training and career preparedness assistance. The center offers curricular-and co-curricular seminar and workshop experiences. Services such as resume writing, mock interviews, career fairs and networking opportunities are also offered to students.

Ernita Hemmitt, interim dean of students for Clark Atlanta University, has worked extensively with students who seek services and advice from the Career Development Center. Pathways recently talked with Hemmitt about how students can prepare themselves for a successful job search.

Pathways: College students often don’t have a resume for any variety of reasons including what they see as a lack of job experience relevant that is to their degree. However, why is it important for students to always have a resume -- even if the jobs they have held are not internships or related to their major?

Ernita Hemmitt: It is important for students to have an updated copy of their resumes because it is about being prepared for all opportunities because you never know when opportunities will present themselves.  Students should not worry that they may not have experience pertinent to their academic discipline because recruiters understand that a freshman, sophomore or maybe a junior may not have relative experience.

Many employers are looking for talented students who may have work experience that demonstrates they have acquired strong leadership/teamwork abilities, effective work ethics such as time management, strong organizational abilities, demonstrated initiative, multi-tasking skills, analytical abilities, outgoing customer service and oral/written communication skills. 

All of these attributes can be acquired from part-time positions within any industry.  Recruiters are more interested in candidates that are trainable and willing to perform to the best of their ability for the betterment of the organization in which they would work.  The student’s ability to communicate his or her contributions in previous jobs is just as impressive as the student having had a job in their major. 

Pathways: What would you say to students regarding the importance of developing and cultivating a network before they graduate?

Hemmitt: The Career Development Center offers a wealth of opportunities to students to develop their abilities and hone networking skills through annual career fairs, recruiter-sponsored career seminars, recruiter information sessions and classroom presentations, etc.  We do this for students because we deem it a necessity for them to develop a strong network base throughout their matriculation at Clark Atlanta University and during their career. 

We advise students to build a network that consists of peers, institutional administrators, faculty, staff, past and current employers, corporate recruiters, graduate school recruiters, personal acquaintances, etc.  Each of these individuals has contacts that they may be able to make referrals or directly recommend a job seeker to a contact.  It is important that students always establish and maintain a positive rapport with that contact because a networking database can assist in paving the pathways to success.  Remember that every opportunity is a networking opportunity. 

As students collect business cards and contacts, it is important for them to keep all of this information in what is called a “Career Journal,” for quick reference.

We tell students to place that collected business card in a journal and beside it, write down who, when and from where they received the contact. They should jot down any specific details that will help them to remember that person.  Students may also want to send a quick well written email to follow up on the conversation that they had in order to re-establish their interest in the conversation.  Networking is essential in a student’s job market strategy.  

Pathways: What are three of the most common mistakes students make before they begin to search for their first job after college?

Hemmitt: Searching for that first job after college actually begins in students’ freshman year and remains a work-in-progress throughout their matriculation and career.

The first common mistake students make is not planning for their career by conducting a self inventory of their skills and abilities to ensure that the discipline they have chosen is a fit for their personal and academic skill sets.

The second most common mistake that students make is not developing a strategy to implement their plan. We strongly advise students to develop a plan that includes interviewing and securing practical hands-on experiences such as internships, community service or service learning opportunities starting as early as their freshmen year.  

The third most common mistake that we observe students making is waiting until their last semester or even worst, waiting until the last month of their senior year to start the job search process.

We find that when students start the job search process early, they have the opportunity to conduct thorough research of companies, develop the necessary skills needed to successfully manage the interviewing process and be articulate during the interview.

Pathways: What do you see as the most important steps students should take to have better success in searching for the first job after college in the current job market?

Hemmitt: Students should take the time to conduct a self evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses regarding their chosen academic discipline/career path. They should be able to articulate those qualities, write out their plan and work the plan through acquiring non-paid/paid internships, study abroad opportunities and networking. 

We find that students have much better success when they join discipline-related professional organizations, invest in a professional wardrobe, attend Toastmaster’s meetings to develop  communication skills and research the market in which they are pursuing a career path. These steps, we find, give students a real competitive edge when they meet prospective employers.  

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Navigating the Workplace for a Successful Transition from the Classroom to a Career

When college graduates take that all-important leap from the classroom to a promising career, most have been prepared by their professors and degree programs to be successful in their chosen profession. However, it’s what many students don’t learn in the classroom that can wreak havoc on their chances for success in a new job.

Whether it is not knowing that one expected is to stay past the time office day official ends, improper dress or inappropriate chatter and gossip, be assured that not following the rules (written and unwritten) can impact an employee’s reputation and deem that employee as “not a good match for the company” or even as a “bad hire.” Of course, once an employee gets any one of these labels, how long he or she can hang on to the job is questionable.  

Erika Myrthil, a recruiter with Accenture, advises students to bone up on getting to know an organization’s culture and what management expects of employees before the first day of work as a way of increases one’s chances of a successful transition into the work environment. Accenture, a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, offers programs that introduce college sophomores and juniors to the organization before they are hired as a way of socializing students into the culture. Myrthil said internships and programs such are ways that students can increase their success once hired, and decrease the chances of committing faux pas once they are part of the company.

“Our company offers professional mentors and job shadowing to interns,” said Myrthil during a recent job fair at Clark Atlanta University. “This exposure helps them not only to learn Accenture’s culture, but the proper way to enter a professional work environment. I would encourage all college students to get out there and learn to be a new employee that makes the right moves once they are inside the company.”

Tips for Managing the Corporate Culture:

Learn the culture. One of the best moves a newcomer can make is to observe the organizational culture – values, communication practices, written and unwritten norms, policies, procedures – and adapt his or her behaviors to the work environment.

Listen and learn.  Listening to what others say more than talking can make a huge difference in what one learns and how to react in those early days and weeks. There will be time to impress people with suggestions and recommendations for changes but in the first few weeks, priority should be placed on listening and learning.

Be an observer first and a change agent second when one is newcomer.  Just as a newcomer should spend the first few weeks listening and learning, it is also important to be a keen observer and ask intelligent questions.

Choose your associates wisely. Whether it is fair or not, people are judged by the company that they keep. Newcomers should take the time to observe others and make good choices about friends and associates on the job. The people to whom one is connected can influence decision makers.

Be kind. No one likes a person who is unkind, rude, impolite or disagreeable. Not only is being unpopular at work unwise but alienating subordinates, co-workers and superiors can lead to not being deemed as "promotable" or even job loss. Being kind and professional should also extend to people who are part of other departments, suppliers, clients and subordinates.

Avoid office gossip. Refrain from office gossip because it is one of the quickest and surest ways to get into the kind of trouble that can cost one his or her friends, reputation, trust of others and even one’s job. Heads up! There is a distinct difference between helpful information that one hears through the company grapevine and gossip that does not add any value to work life and in some cases, can hurt others.  

Honor commitments and adhere to deadlines. Establishing a reputation for keeping commitments is an excellent way to be deemed a valuable colleague and employee. When deadlines are not adhered to, others are impacted and delivering on an agreed upon deadline will build trust among co-workers. 

Good manners are a must for success. The same good manners that one learned in kindergarten apply in the business world!

Mentors are important. As Myrthil stated, her company places such a premium on the mentor-mentee relationship that it offers a special mentoring program for college sophomores and juniors so that they their chances for success increase once they enter the work environment. If students cannot intern with companies that offer such opportunities, they should identify a professor, family friend or another individual who can provide them professional advice, guidance and help them navigate their career path.  

Following these guidelines can help new professionals navigate the workplace and achieve greater success once they transition from the campus to a career.  

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